Universities in Canada: List of Top Colleges & Universities

When it comes to studying abroad, Canada ought to be there in the list of top countries preferred for overseas education. Why all this frenzy to study in Canada, especially in the top 10 colleges? The answer is simple. Canada is a host to some recognized universities having collegiate preeminence all over the globe. Further, the affordable cost of studying in Canada along with offering SDS Visa options makes the admission process easier for international students. Being a country that has such a conducive environment for the students and invests this much in Human Resources, there is no reason why anyone would not choose Canada to pursue higher education. So, here is a list of the top 10 universities in Canada 2025 that you can consider.

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Study in Canada Latest Updates 2025

• The Canadian universities are open for admission for international students who wish to study in Canada for the upcoming September intake 2024.
• IRCC in 2024 announced that the study permits would be capped at 360,000. This number would be divided among the provinces and territories for specific allocations by their population. For now, the limit would not affect the masters/doctoral applicants.
• Aside from that, Canada has raised the English language requirement for postgraduate work permits. University graduates would now require an English language requirement of a Canadian Langauge benchmark of 7.

Popular Intakes 

To study in Canada, universities offer three popular entry points or intakes for admissions. These are Fall, Winter, and Summer. The fall intake is the most popular in the country followed by Winter and Summer. Summer intake is the least popular intake because of the limited courses and students applying to universities.

Intakes	Applications Begin	Starting Month
Fall	June	September
Winter	November	January
Summer	February	April- May

Top 10 Colleges in Canada

The following are the top 10 Colleges in Canada for international students:

Top 10 Universities in Canada	THE World Rankings 2024	QS World University Rankings 2025
University of Toronto	21	25
University of British Columbia	41	38
McGill University	49	29
McMaster University	=103	=176
University of Alberta	=109	96
University of Montreal	=111	=159
University of Calgary	201–250	=198
University of Ottawa	=177	189
University of Waterloo	=158	115
University of Victoria	351–400	349

University of Toronto 

If you too are looking for the answer for “which is the best college in Canada for international students?” then UoT is what you can consider. Being a part of the list of top 10 colleges in Canada, the university is well-known for its Master of Engineering in Electrical & Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Commerce [BCom], and Bachelor of Arts in Economics courses. The plus side of taking admission to the University of Toronto is that the academic layout here is not rigid and hence equips you with the opportunity to try a broad range of courses to explore your caliber. Also, if you are someone who is a top-of-the-line bibliophile, then their library would become your second home. Some of the popular courses of the university are:

Popular Course	Duration	Estimated Fees (INR)
MSc Computer Science	16 Months	42 Lakhs
Full-Time MBA	20 Months	82 Lakhs
Master of Engineering in Aerospace Studies	1 Year	39 Lakhs
Bachelors of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering	4 Years	36 Lakhs/Year
MA in Clinical and Counselling Psychology	2 Years	16.7 Lakhs

Did you know: France, who once owned much of North America for a while, left behind the culture and the language of France. Today, English and French are the most widely spoken official languages in Canada.

The University of British Columbia 

This prestigious university has been home to 3 Canadian Prime Ministers and 8 Nobel Prize Winners. The University of British Colombia is a host for 64,798 students out of which 17,225 students are international students taking admission from over 160+ countries. UBC provides a conducive environment for research and provides over $669.1 million as a part of their research funding for over 9500+ projects as per the UCB website. As per the ranking of Times Higher Education, the university features as the 37th University around the world. The most popular courses that the University offers are BSc Nursing, Doctor of Dental Medicine in Dentistry (Vancouver), and MD-PhD program. Some of the popular courses of the university are:

Popular Course	Duration	Estimated Fees (INR)
MSc in Business Administration	2 Years	5.6 Lakhs/year
Master of Physical Therapy	26 Months	26 Lakhs/year
Master of Management in Operations Research	16 Months	31 Lakhs/year
Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art	2 Years	5.6 Lakhs/year
Bachelor of Science in Nursing	4 Years	25.9 Lakhs/year

Did you know: International students and Post Graduation Work permits (PGWP) holders were the primary drivers of Canada’s population growth!

McGill University 

Best known for its medical and law courses, McGill University is a popular option among other top 10 colleges in Canada. The university believes in fraternity and inclusiveness offering its first degree to a woman in 1888 as well as appointing Canada’s first female university professor and enterprising the first fraternity for gay and bisexuals. If you are someone who wants to probe further in the area of research, then it has one of the oldest research facilities in the tropics known as Bellairs Research Institute in St. James, Barbados. Some of the popular courses of the university are:

Popular Course	Duration	Estimated Fees (INR)
MBA	20 Months	60.5 Lakhs
MSc in Mechanical Engineering	18 Months	13.4 Lakhs/year
B.Eng. in Computer Engineering	4 Years	35.8 Lakhs/year
Master of Laws (LL.M.)	1.5 Years	22 Lakhs/year
Certificate in Software Development	13 Weeks	20 Lakhs

Did you know: The population of international students in Canada declined by 60,000 in 2020 due to COVID!

McMaster University

Listed 140th in QS Rankings, McMaster is a notable mention in our list of top 10 colleges in Canada. Apart from the STEM courses, the university is revered for its diverse programs in Business and Management, Humanities, Social Science as well as Health Sciences. Moreover, the university boasts of offering Canada’s first fully integrated, 5 years long, Biomedical and Health Science program. Apart from this, McMaster also has BA Economics, Materials Engineering, Automotive and Vehicle Engineering Technology, BA Hons Actuarial and Financial Mathematics, etc on offer. Some of the popular courses of the university are:

Popular Course	Duration	Estimated Fees (INR)
MSc in Computer Science	1-2 Years	36.5 Lakhs/year
Doctor of Medicine (MD)	3 Years	58.4 Lakhs/year
M.Eng in Electrical and Computer Engineering	1.5-2 Years	–
M.Eng in Civil Engineering	1.5-2 Years	–
Bachelor of Commerce	4 Years	–

Did you know: Canada has the longest coastline in the world which is 125,500 miles.

University of Alberta 

Featuring among the top universities to offer a course in Post Diploma BSc Dental Hygiene, BScKin – Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Alberta is the choicest institute for medical courses and thus is in our list of top 10 universities in Canada. Alberta is also one of the most famous universities to offer prominent career options in forestry and agriculture, manufacturing and tourism, and finance. Also, it provides Alberta Healthcare Insurance Plan (AHCIP) to international students who plan to stay there for 12 months or have a study permit. Some of the popular courses of the university are:

Popular Course	Duration	Estimated Fees (INR)
MBA in Finance	20 Months	36.5 Lakh
Master of Public Health (MPH)	20 Months	–
BSc in Computing Science General	4 Year	24.5 Lakh/year
Master of Science in Engineering Management	2.5 Years	–
Executive MBA	20 Months	48 Lakh

University of Montreal

Ranked 1st in Quebec, the University of Montreal has etched its name in the top 10 colleges in Canada due to its excellent educational infrastructure, top-notch academic staff, state-of-the-art research centers, and scores of degree and short-term programs. It offers courses across domains like Economics, Life Sciences, Information Technology, Arts and Music, Literature, etc. Some of the programs include Graduate Diploma in Game Designing, Baccalaureate in Project Management, Bachelor in bioinformatics, etc. Some of the popular courses of the university are:

Popular Course	Duration	Estimated Fees (INR)
Module Administration computer systems	3 Years	17 Lakhs/year
Bachelor In Law	3 Years	11 Lakhs
MA in Psychology	2 Years	16.5 Lakhs
PhD Virology and Immunology	3-5 Years	5.8 Lakhs
PhD in Biomedical Engineering	3-5 Years	5.8 Lakh

Did you know that Canada is one of the most diverse and multiculturally rich countries with people from over 180 countries!

University of Calgary 

One of the most sought-after universities offering top-notch courses in the field of medical science is the University of Calgary. It offers a bachelor’s as well as a master’s degree in Nursing and Management Technology. The university believes in offering courses that are an amalgamation of theory and practical knowledge with innovation and technology to aspire for a blazing tomorrow. Some of the popular courses of the university are:

Popular Course	Duration	Estimated Fees (INR)
Master of Management	10 Months	21 Lakh
Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies	2 Years	11 Lakh/year
Bachelor of Commerce in General Commerce	4 Years	12.4 Lakh/year
Master of Arts in Economics	1 Year	9.7 Lakh/year
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry	4 Years	10.9 Lakh/year

Did you know: The word Canada is derived from the indigenous word Kanata, which means “settlement” or “village” in the language of the St. Lawrence Iroquoians. 

University of Ottawa 

Another name that shouldn’t be missed while talking about the top 10 colleges in Canada, is the University of Ottawa. It offers a profound course in Nursing at a bachelor’s as well as a master’s level. The university also features among the 10 most research-intensive universities in Canada. So, if you are keen to venture into the field of science and research, then, this might be the right choice for you. Some of the popular courses of the university are:

Popular Course	Duration	Estimated Fees (INR)
Master of Engineering in Engineering Management	1.5- 2 Years	19.2 Lakh
Honors BSc in Computer Science	4 Years	29.3 Lakh
Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts	2 Years	14.8 Lakh
Master of Science in Management	2 Years	17.8 Lakh
Master of Business Administration	1 Year	34.7 Lakh

University of Waterloo  

The University of Waterloo is ranked as Canada’s most innovative university for the past 27 years consecutively by Maclean. The topmost courses that a broad array of students opt for in this university are Master of Science in Health Studies and Gerontology, Masters of Science in Optometry and Vision Studies, and Bachelors of Legal Studies. The university has etched its name in the list of academic institutions offering top-notch Management courses in Canada.  Some of the popular courses of the university are:

Popular Course	Duration	Estimated Fees (INR)
Doctor of Pharmacy	4 Years	–
Master of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology	1 Year	31.8 Lakh
Master of Quantitative Finance	16 Months	8.98 Lakh/year
MSc in Vision Science	2 Years	11.8 Lakh/year
MSc in Public Health and Health Systems	2 Years	11.8 Lakh/year

https://youtu.be/3NN-R2zMg0s

York University

York University is one of the highly distinguished universities when it comes to providing numerous exceptional programs. The top three most sought-after courses offered by York University as being a part of the top 10 colleges in Canada are MBA, Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering, and Juris Doctor. The University also shares an extensive network of alumni all over the globe. The film department of York University is one of the oldest and most eminent film schools in the world. Some of the popular courses of the university are:

Popular Course	Duration	Estimated Fees (INR)
MSc in Computer science	20 Months	18.25 Lakhs/year
Master of Marketing	12 Months	20.68 Lakhs/year
BA in Computer Science	3 Years	15.4 Lakhs/year
International Bachelor of Business Administration	4 Years	17.8 Lakhs/year
BA in Business and Society	3 Years	17.1 Lakhs/year

Did you know: The French and British were not the first Europeans to colonize Canada. It was the Vikings, in the year 1000 AD.

University of Victoria

A very popular and one of the top 10 colleges in Canada, the University of Victoria is an ideal option for those who want to delve deeper into research in different domains. It was also ranked 1st in the Leiden 2019 report for research in Maths and Computer Science. From Law and Engineering to Fine Arts and Social Sciences, you can explore a plethora of courses offered by the university. Some of which have been given a rundown below-

Popular Course	Duration	Estimated Fees (INR)
Master of Global Business	1 Year	23 Lakhs
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Computer Science	4 Years	17 Lakhs/year
Master of Business Administration	16 Months	33 Lakhs
Master of Science in Mathematics and Statistics	1.5 – 2 Years	2.7 Lakhs
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology	4 Years	13.5 Lakhs/year

Top 10 Colleges in Canada for Diploma

PG Diploma courses in Canada are the choicest amongst international students as they are cost-effective and offered across diverse specialisations. Here are the top 10 colleges in Canada for PG Diploma:

• Durham College
• Dawson College
• George Brown College
• Algonquin College
• Seneca College
• Humber College
• Confederation College of Applied Arts & Technology
• Nova Scotia Community College
• Columbia College
• Luther College

Know more: PGDM in Canada

Top 10 Colleges in Canada for MBA

• Rotman School of Management
• McGill University
• Ivey Business School
• Schulich School of Business
• Sauder School of Business
• HEC Montreal
• Queen’s School of Business
• Alberta School of Business
• Beedie School of Business
• Edwards School of Business

Top Colleges for Postgraduate Diploma

• Algonquin College
• Centennial College
• Durham College
• Fanshawe College
• George Brown College
• Humber College
• The Sheridan College
• Sault College
• Mohawk College

Top Universities in Canada for Masters

• University of Toronto
• McGill University
• The University of British Columbia
• University of Montreal
• University of Alberta
• McMaster University
• University of Waterloo
• Western University
• Dalhousie University
• University Laval
• Queen’s University

Top 10 Colleges in Canada for Computer Science

Want to pursue Computer Science and Engineering in Canada? Check out the top 10 colleges in Canada for Computer Science:

• University of Toronto
• University of British Columbia
• McGill University
• University of Montreal
• University of Alberta
• McMaster University
• University of Calgary
• University of Waterloo
• Queen’s University
• Western University

Affordable Universities in Canada

Many affordable universities in Canada offer education programs for international students. Here are the top universities in Canada with lower tuition fees.

• Brandon University
• University of Guelph
• Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Canadian Mennonite University
• University of St. Boniface
• McGill University
• Humber College
• University of Calgary
• University of Northern British Columbia
• Centennial College 

Top 10 Colleges in Canada for Project Management

University/College	Courses
University of Saskatchewan	Masters Certificate in Project Management
Concordia University	Masters Certificate in Project Management
Royal Roads University	Postgraduate Certificate
Centennial College	Graduate Certificate in Project Management
Seneca College	Master of Project Management- IT Master of Project Management- Environmental Studies
Vancouver Island University	Graduate Diploma in Project Management
Douglas College	Post degree diploma in Project Management
Lambton College	Graduate Certificate in Construction Project Management / Enterprise Project Management
Humber College	Graduate Certificate  in Project Management
Algonquin College	Graduate Certificate  in Project Management
MacEwan University	Graduate Certificate in Project Management & Professional Communication
University of Northern British Columbia	Master of Project Management

Eligibility Criteria to Study in Canada

If you are planning to study in Canada from India, here are the key requirements you need to keep in mind:

• Transcripts or Marksheet of your previous degree or diploma
• GMAT or GRE Scores for MBA and Masters programs in Canada
• Statement of Purpose (SOP) & Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
• Acceptable English Proficiency Tests:
  • IELTS
  • C1 Advanced
  • TOEFL
    If you are applying for a French-taught program, you need to submit French Proficiency Tests Like TCF, TEF, DELF, and DALF.
• Proof that you have sufficient funds to study in Canada.
• An updated CV (if required)
• If you are applying for a Masters in Canada or PhD program, you might need to provide two letters of academic reference with previous letters of employment. And if you haven’t studied in Canada before, you will also need an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment).

Benefits of Studying in Canada Universities

We always hear a lot of young Indian students opting for Canadian universities. In fact, according to TOI, Canada accepted study permits for more than 67,000 Indian students in just the first 4 months of 2021. Also, 30,000 international students were given permanent residency in Canada out of which 1/3rd are Indians. This tells us a lot about the Indian-Canadian camaraderie. 

There are a lot of other student-friendly reasons that tell us why studying in Canada is a reasonable choice to make:-

• Affordable: A decade ago, studying abroad was only for affluent Indian families. But Canada’s tuition fees and living expenses are affordable for most Indians. Tuition fees can be as low as Rs.1.25 lakh per year.
• Quality of life: According to EduCanada, Canada ranks best in terms of quality of life. Student-friendly cities of Toronto, Ontario and Montreal make it easier for international students to adjust to a new country.  
• Practical education: Most of the graduate degrees in Canada are offered in a co-op format. This means that Canadian universities emphasize a lot of skill development through internships as well as theoretical education. 
• Cultural diversity: 1.37 million of the population in Canada is Indo-Canadian. So as an Indian student, homesickness will seldom occupy you. 

Student Life in Canada

Canada invests a huge amount of money in education and its facilities. This makes the country among the most caught-after study abroad destinations. Let’s briefly go through the dynamic student life in Canada.

• Canada is known to have a multicultural environment that gives students a global perspective and also helps them build a stronger network. 
• The country is also known for welcoming the majority of the immigrants which contributes to the progressive nature of the people.
• Students can explore endless leisure activities in  Canada. Being home to many world heritage sites and lively festivals, students can engage in various activities.
• Canada is also known to have the lowest crime rates in the world. Canadians experience less violent crimes, fewer break-ins, and police officers follow strict ethics which makes it safe for students. 

Scholarships in Canada

Be it for undergraduate programs or scholarships in Canada for masters, those wanting to study in Canada will find plenty of opportunities to fund their education. Here is the complete list of scholarships in Canada:

• York University International Student Scholarships
• University of Waterloo Graduate Scholarships
• Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program at University of Toronto 
• University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship 
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship
• Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Scholarship 
• Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan 
• National Research Council of Canada Scholarship 
• Ontario Trillium Scholarship
• Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship
• Partnership Grams by Social Science and Humanities Research Council for Canada 
• University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
• Hani Zeini Scholarships 
• Ritchie- Jennings Memorial Scholarship 
• Erasmus Scholarship 

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